CHAPTER 16 - PERFECT CHAOS

Ahmed, who had just awakened, did not know that a nightmare awaited him. Unlike every other day, Cyra was sitting at the foot end of the bed fidgeting with her fingers. 

'Where are you lost, Cyra? Can I have my coffee while I get ready for the office?' But there was no reply. Ahmed held her shoulders and turned her face towards him lazily. Cyra looked tired, as if she hadn't slept, and the skin under her eyes a flaming red. 

'What happened, Cyra? Is everything alright?'

'Oh, Ahmed. I am so perfect. I was worried about what your parents would say when we reached home.'

'Don't you worry about it, Cyra. I will take care.....' Ahmed stopped midway before finishing his sentence, realising what just happened. Did he just fall into her trap? He questioned himself. How did it even happen? He turned around and noticed his phone lying lifeless on the table, and he sure understood something had gone terribly wrong.

'I just meant, I...' he stumbled

'Ahmed, what is even going on? Yesterday a certain Rabiya called you claiming to be your mother. And she questioned my presence along your side. What on earth does that mean?'

'I can explain, Cyra. Please let me.' He said while looking down and holding her hand, asking for her patience.

'What do you want to explain about lying about your parents? They are still alive, and you told us otherwise. What's sad is we trusted you blindly.'

Cyra eluded his hand with a force that he stared in disbelief. 

'I was scared about us, Cyra. I did not want to leave you after all that had happened. And I was worried my parents would have messed it up.'

'Why did you think so, Ahmed? Is there some reason why they would not approve of us?'

'Oh, there's nothing like that.'

'And, I did forget to ask you about something else as well. Do you remember anybody named Aliza who is possibly related to you?' Ahmed shuddered in shock. He couldn't speak as he felt like his world had stopped altogether. She couldn't have possibly known Aliza. No. That couldn't be.

'Ahmed, I am talking to you. Your mother mentioned Aliza while talking over the phone, thinking it was you. And I noticed how you haven't saved any of their contacts yet.'

'Cyra, can we talk about this in the evening? When I return from the office, I will tell you every little detail of it. Trust me, Cyra. I will tell you everything just as I get back. I can't afford to be late to the office today. Please.'

'How should I know if you are trustworthy or not after all this?'

'But remember, this discussion happens, and you can't get away with it.'

Ahmed barely worked in his office. It was his escape to buy time, and all the while, he was planning how to break the news to Cyra and how she would take it. He was torn between lying to her about Aliza and confessing everything. His earlier plans of staying with Cyra as long as he had his job while visiting his family on weekends seem to be at risk now. Cyra wasn't at peace as well. Her heart was in jitters, and she knew something had gone gravely wrong.

Ahmed decided to break the news to keep the situation under control because he feared he would lose Cyra altogether in that case. Cyra, unlike Aliza, would not even think before breaking her ties with Ahmed because she had been raised to be independent, and Ahmed was aware of that. He reluctantly got back home, sweating profusely. But an empty room welcomed his return, and Cyra was not to be found in their room or her new stockroom. A hyped-up Ahmed searched for her while Cyra's mother informed him that Cyra had left for Chennai for her work. 

'Maybe you should call her Ahmed. I think your phone couldn't be reached.' Ahmed stood in their hall as limp as a lifeless body.

In other news, Aliza has landed in Bangalore with her brother Fahim who promised her to go along with her plan. 

To be continued…

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